What to wear for a business photo: 7 rules

The short answer: wear what you wear at work, one step smarter. Plain, well-fitting clothes look calmest on camera.

The 7 rules

1. Plain instead of patterns. Fine stripes and small checks flicker on screens.
2. One step smarter. If you wear a shirt every day, bring a jacket.
3. Muted colours. Navy, grey, beige and muted green suit almost any background.
4. No pure black against a dark backdrop. Otherwise your outline disappears.
5. Ironed and well-fitting. Creases and oversized shoulders show immediately.
6. Subtle jewellery. It should complement, not distract.
7. Bring an alternative. On the day we decide together what works best.

Matching your industry

Law firms and banks look most consistent with a jacket and blouse or shirt. In agencies, trades or IT a well-fitting jumper or a plain T-shirt under a jacket works well. What matters is that you recognise yourself.